and release of hostages held by hamas in exchange for palestinian detainees held by israel. the qatari authorities, who have acted as mediators during months of negotiations, are expected to hold a news conference imminently. we were expecting that an hour and a half ago. the hamas delegation is apparently on the prime minister's offers a short while ago, just ironing out the finalfew details of while ago, just ironing out the final few details of this detail. my colleague mark lowen is injerusalem. all the signposting, all the quotes coming from hamas and the us pointing to one thing — a ceasefire deal has been reached. a ceasefire deal has been reached-— a ceasefire deal has been reached. , w reached. yes, indeed. in fact there has— reached. yes, indeed. in fact there hasjust _ reached. yes, indeed. in fact there hasjust been - reached. yes, indeed. in fact there hasjust been another i there has just been another confirmation of that, another source briefed on the talks

speaking to our colleagues at the afp news agency who have just saying israel and hamas agree a dealfor just saying israel and hamas agree a deal for gaza just saying israel and hamas agree a dealfor gaza ceasefire and the hostage release. this is very much what we have been hearing all through the day and it appears that the deal that has been struck is what was being leaked to the israeli media, and indeed what was pretty much on the table for the last eight months, which is that there will be a phased ceasefire deal, three phases. in phase one, which will last six weeks, there will be a release of 33 hostages. a reminder that 98 are still being held in gaza, so about a third of them will be released in the first phase. that will include women, both soldiers and non—soldiers. also the elderly, the sick and the injured, who will be released injured, who will be released in small groups over every week in small groups over every week in return for hundreds,

possibly up to 1000 palestinian prisoners being released from israeli jails. israel would withdraw from some built—up areas in gaza allowing some of the almost 2 million displaced in gaza to return home. we were hearing earlier in the day that israel wanted guarantees on how those people would be vetted as they returned home. they wanted security screening of those in the south of gaza before they move up to the north. israel would remain, we understand, and the philadelphia corridor which is close to the rafah border with egypt. and on day 16 of the six—week first phase the two sides would begin the negotiating phase two of the ceasefire deal which would be the release of the remaining hostages and talks on a permanent sea fire which are going to be very difficult because hamas has been demanding a complete israeli withdrawal from gaza. demanding a complete israeli withdrawalfrom gaza. israel has been the opposing that so

it appears there of the sticking points have been pushed back into negotiating stages. figs pushed back into negotiating staues. a . , stages. as you are 'ust completing fl stages. as you are 'ust completing that h stages. as you are just l completing that thought stages. as you are just i completing that thought it stages. as you are just - completing that thought it is being reported out of the us that donald trump has said, we have a dealfor the hostages in the middle east. they will be released shortly. we know that his envoy has been in the region applying pressure on the israelis last week and that is why, potentially, we have seen so much movement in the last few days. the biden administration also apply maximum pressure in the final days of the administration. but donald trump saying, we have a dealfor donald trump saying, we have a deal for the hostages donald trump saying, we have a dealfor the hostages in the middle east and they will be released shortly. in terms of the israelis though, what is the israelis though, what is the prime minister's office saying about a vote on this? i assume there will be about. when is to happen because you know we expect that that vote would probably happen on

thursday, tomorrow, but there are still questions over whether there would be opposition and indeed whether a couple of ministers, the far right ministers and the israeli coalition, would vote against it. ~ , ~ coalition, would vote against it. . , ~ ., it. we still think that even if they vote — it. we still think that even if they vote against _ it. we still think that even if they vote against it, - it. we still think that even if they vote against it, even i it. we still think that even if they vote against it, even if| they vote against it, even if they vote against it, even if they were to withdraw support from the coalition altogether, the majority of government ministers will still back the deal so it will still go through. but on that point of donald trump's involvement and indeed the pressure coming from america, let's pick up on some of that. we are joined by tom bateman is, our state department correspondent, who is on the line from washington. you are based here for many years. you are now in the us. there is a sense of how important donald trump, the incoming administration has been, on changing the calculation here in israel and putting pressure on both

netanyahu and hamas to reach this point. it’s netanyahu and hamas to reach this point-— this point. it's absolutely critical- _ this point. it's absolutely critical. just _ this point. it's absolutely critical. just before - this point. it's absolutely critical. just before we i this point. it's absolutely. critical. just before we do, let me _ critical. just before we do, let me just tell you that one source — let me just tell you that one source briefed on the talks has been _ source briefed on the talks has been telling me, in the last few minutes, that the gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal_ ceasefire and hostage release deal has — ceasefire and hostage release deal has been reached following the qatari prime minister's meeting with hamas negotiators and separately with israeli negotiators in his office, so another_ negotiators in his office, so another positive sign and it appears _ another positive sign and it appears progress has been made. you mention what donald trump has also — you mention what donald trump has also said. i think the key point — has also said. i think the key point here _ has also said. i think the key point here has been that the transition to the trump presidency, the looming deadline of his inauguration on monday— deadline of his inauguration on monday the 20th ofjanuary, monday— monday the 20th ofjanuary, monday next week, has, in effect, _ monday next week, has, in effect, imposed a meaningful deadline on these talks. by which — deadline on these talks. by which both sides knew that the current— which both sides knew that the current terms on offer, and the fact that — current terms on offer, and the fact that they are guaranteed by the — fact that they are guaranteed by the united states, that you -et by the united states, that you get much more uncertainty after

that date — get much more uncertainty after that date. there just isn't the same — that date. there just isn't the same degree of certainty for both— same degree of certainty for both of— same degree of certainty for both of them. with the new administration you are going to -et administration you are going to get everything that the biden administration had built into this process that may be changed priorities. so that is where — changed priorities. so that is where i— changed priorities. so that is where i think we are at. i was just— where i think we are at. i was just sitting _ where i think we are at. i was just sitting in the room and the foreign relations committee with marco rubio, donald trump's _ with marco rubio, donald trump's incoming secretary of state, — trump's incoming secretary of state, who was almost certain to be — state, who was almost certain to be confirmed by the committee so in five days a month— committee so in five days a month two time he will become donald — month two time he will become donald trump's chief diplomat and he — donald trump's chief diplomat and he will was asked about reports _ and he will was asked about reports of a ceasefire deal and said he — reports of a ceasefire deal and said he was hopeful that this was — said he was hopeful that this was now— said he was hopeful that this was now happening. a new administration will have to take — administration will have to take this sun in five days' time _ take this sun in five days' time at _ take this sun in five days' time. at the biden administration will be dealing with the — administration will be dealing with the potential and immediate implementation of that agreement.— that agreement. thanks very much. that agreement. thanks very much- let's _ that agreement. thanks very much. let's cross _ that agreement. thanks very much. let's cross over - that agreement. thanks very much. let's cross over to - that agreement. thanks very| much. let's cross over to our gaza correspondent who is currently in turkey but still very plugged in to everything

happening in gaza. bring us up to date on your contacts and sources have been saying in the last few minutes. i think while we are speaking the deal— i think while we are speaking the deal is being signed now in doha _ the deal is being signed now in doha and — the deal is being signed now in doha and within minutes i think the official announcement came out. the official announcement came out it— the official announcement came out it is— the official announcement came out. it is finally over for the people _ out. it is finally over for the people of— out. it is finally over for the people of gaza and the hostages' families in israel. it should _ hostages' families in israel. it should go into effect on sunday— it should go into effect on sunday and allow hundreds of thousands of people end gaza city to — thousands of people end gaza city to go back to their homes and villages and towns in the north — and villages and towns in the north. hamas will have to release _ north. hamas will have to release about 33 israeli hostages and it will mark the first— hostages and it will mark the first day _ hostages and it will mark the first day of releasing three israeli _ first day of releasing three israeli hostages while they

start— israeli hostages while they start to _ israeli hostages while they start to pull out their tanks from — start to pull out their tanks from the _ start to pull out their tanks from the highly populated areas in northern gaza in the middle of gaza — in northern gaza in the middle of gaza within seven days. the displaced _ of gaza within seven days. the displaced people will be allowed to go back to the north _ allowed to go back to the north. in the first stage across— north. in the first stage across the road and then after 22 days — across the road and then after 22 days the qataris and egyptians will set up scanners to allow — egyptians will set up scanners to allow about 4000 cars back to allow about 4000 cars back to the — to allow about 4000 cars back to the north and very important issue _ to the north and very important issue for— to the north and very important issue for palestinians also is that— issue for palestinians also is that part _ issue for palestinians also is that part of the deal, 600 trucks _ that part of the deal, 600 trucks of aid and medical supplies, including tents, will be allowed into gaza at the rafah — be allowed into gaza at the rafah crossing, including 50 fuel lorries or trucks as we understand, to break what is remaining of the hospitals and tried _ remaining of the hospitals and tried to — remaining of the hospitals and tried to fix the power station and to— tried to fix the power station and to repairthe tried to fix the power station and to repair the sewage system and to repair the sewage system and water— and to repair the sewage system and water system and start the

process — and water system and start the process of finding a solution for all— process of finding a solution for all of— process of finding a solution for all of the problems people have — for all of the problems people have been suffering for over a year~ — have been suffering for over a year. most of the people understand in gaza that their homes — understand in gaza that their homes were destroyed but they inslst— homes were destroyed but they insist they want to go back and start— insist they want to go back and start rebuilding their homes. thank— start rebuilding their homes. thank you very much. let's pick this up withjonah fisher. how will it be approved here in israel but when the first hostages might be released?— first hostages might be released? . ., , ., first hostages might be released? ., , ., ., released? we have yet to hear officially from _ released? we have yet to hear officially from the _ released? we have yet to hear officially from the israeli - officially from the israeli government here to confirm there — government here to confirm there is— government here to confirm there is a _ government here to confirm there is a deal on their side. we believe that they have agreed _ we believe that they have agreed to the agreement. they were _ agreed to the agreement. they were briefing earlier today that — were briefing earlier today that they were simply waiting for hamas to respond. we have now had — for hamas to respond. we have now had that response so one would — now had that response so one would assume that there is a deal— would assume that there is a deal and _ would assume that there is a

deal and let's talk on that basis _ deal and let's talk on that basis in _ deal and let's talk on that basis. in terms of the process here — basis. in terms of the process here in— basis. in terms of the process here in israel, politically it will— here in israel, politically it will have _ here in israel, politically it will have to go to the security cabinet — will have to go to the security cabinet. there are some voices within— cabinet. there are some voices within the _ cabinet. there are some voices within the government here who have _ within the government here who have expressed strong opposition to this deal, calling _ opposition to this deal, calling it a catastrophe, one of them, _ calling it a catastrophe, one of them, calling it a surrender to hamas _ of them, calling it a surrender to hamas. so some very strong voices, _ to hamas. so some very strong voices, but— to hamas. so some very strong voices, but we don't believe they— voices, but we don't believe they will— voices, but we don't believe they will be strong enough to deal— they will be strong enough to deal rall— they will be strong enough to deal rail this getting through government and destabilise the government. but we believe it should — government. but we believe it should probably get through that — should probably get through that. but in terms of the choreography of the deal itself, _ choreography of the deal itself, one of the reasons why this has— itself, one of the reasons why this has been so complicated in terms _ this has been so complicated in terms of— this has been so complicated in terms of achieving agreement is the amount of details, the phasing _ the amount of details, the phasing of it. it's been clear from — phasing of it. it's been clear from the _ phasing of it. it's been clear from the start that this deal would — from the start that this deal would involve reciprocal steps from — would involve reciprocal steps from each side. so day one, and this is— from each side. so day one, and this is based on drafts 1524 00: